Locking means for power-operated devices



Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING MEANS FOR POWER-OPERATED I DEVICES Anthony A. Quimper, Westfield, Mass, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 25, 1944, Serial N 0. 528,154

Claims.

This invention relates to locking means, and particularly to locking means for a power-operated lever.

The invention is herein described as applied to the carbonated water valve of a beverage dispensing machine, but it will be obvious that the invention has other applications to cases where it is desired to prevent the unauthorized operation of a power-operated lever.

In a beverage dispensing apparatus of the type disclosed in the copending application of Evert S. Wegman, Serial No. 515,661, filed December 27, 1943 for Refrigeratingapparatus, the valve for releasing carbonated water from the carbonator to the cup is actuated by a solenoid-operated lever. I have found that it is possible to actuate this valve manually by pulling down on the collar to which the valve stem is attached, even though the solenoid is not energized, thus permitting the free flow of cold, carbonated water.

This invention contemplates the provision of means preventing the operation of the water valve except when the power member, here shown as a solenoid, is properly energized.

The invention also includes the provision of means for preventing the movement of any power-operated lever unless the power device itself is properly energized.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the cup station of a beverage dispensing machine;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line II- II of Fig. 1 and showing, on an enlarged scale, the water valve, the actuating lever and its solenoid;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing details of the connection between the solenoid core and the valve-actuating lever; and

Fig, 4 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

The front wall of a beverage dispensing apparatus is indicated at Ill. This wall is provided with an opening I l comprising a cup station into which a cup falls when a beverage is to be automatically dispensed. The cup is positioned by suitable means (not shown) beneath a dispensing nozzle I2. Thereupon, carbonated water flows from the nozzle into the cup, with or without syrup from a suitable source and outlet (not shown), in response to the actuation of certain mechanisms as are known in the art.

Referring to Fig. 2, the nozzle l2 leads from a carbonator I3 disposed in an insulated and refrigerated casing l4 to a point above the cup, the lower end of the nozzle projecting through the top wall l5 of the cup station It. The valve mechanism controlling the flow of water from the carbonator through the nozzle to the cup is shown in dotted lines-in Fig. 2. The details of the valve mechanism form no part of the present invention and are shown schematically for illustrative purposes only. It need only be stated that carbonated water flows from the carbonator 13 past valve seat l6 and valve I! when the stem I8 is depressed. The valve I6 is normally seated by a spring l9. Channels 20 direct the flow of water to a receptacle after the valve has been unseated. The lower end of stem I8 is connected to a slidable collar 2| through spaced webs 22.

The valve stem 18 is depressed and the valve i1 unseated when solenoid 23 is energized. A lever 24, pivoted at'25.on a supporting strap 26 suitably attached to the casing I4, opens the valve when the solenoid 23 is energized. One end of the lever has forked arms 21 fitting a recess 28 provided in the slidable collar 2|. The other end is pivotally connected by a' pin 29 to a U-shaped strap 30. This strap has a threaded rod or bolt 3| attached to its upper surface and the upper end of bolt 3| is adjustably engaged in a small block 32. The solenoid core 33 carries a pair of plates 34 depending below its laminations. Each of these plates is provided with a slot 35 of substantial length. A pin 36 extends through these slots and engages the block 32 between the plates 34. A substantially L-shaped member 31, formed with a pair of extending arms 38, is pivoted at these arms to the lower end of the plates 34 by loose rivets 39. These arms join the other leg 40 of the L-shaped member 31 a short distance from its lower end, leaving a short projection 4| for engaging and sliding on the lever 24. The leg 40 is just long enough to move freely under the lower end of the armature of solenoid 23 (see Fig. 2).

In the operation of the device, the parts are shown in Fig. 2 with the solenoid deenergized and the valve I! closed. Any attempt to open the valve by manually pulling down on the collar 2i will be frustrated by the presence of L-shaped member 31 whose leg 4| interposes a firm lock between the lever 24 and. the end of the solenoid armature. However, when the solenoid is energized, in response, for example, to the insertion of a coin in suitable controlling mechanism, the

initial upward movement of the core 34 first moves the member 31 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4, so that the leg 40 is released from beneath the solenoid armature. Then, through the pin-and-slot connection 35, 36, continued upward movement of the core rotates the lever 24 clockwise, thus opening the valve ll. When the solenoid .is deenergized, the parts immediately return to the position of Fig. 2.

While the invention has been described as applied to a solenoid-operated lever, it is obvious that other power devices having a reciprocating member could equally well be used to operate the lever, and it is also obvious that the lever could be used to operate other devices than the described valve.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a lever, a fulcrum therefor, means for locking the lever against manual movement thereof comprising, a power device for moving the lever about its fulcrum, said power device comprising a stationary part and a reciprocally-moving part, and means movable by said reciprocally-moving part and cooperating with the stationary part and the lever for permitting operation of the lever only by movement of said reciprocally-moving part, said means being pivotally attached to the reciprocally-moving part and normally disposed between and in contact with both the lever and the stationary part when the power device is inactive.

2. In combination, a lever, a fulcrum therefor, means for controlling movement of said lever about its fulcrum, said means comprising; a solenoid having a stationary coil and a movable core for operating the lever, a locking member pivotally attached to the core adjacent the lever, said pivoted locking member being interposed between the stationar coil and the lever to prevent movement of the lever when the solenoid is deenergized, and a lost-motion connection between the movable core and the lever so that energization of the solenoid first moves the looking member away from the stationary coil and then operates the lever.

B. In combination, a lever, a fulcrum therefor,

means for controlling movement of said lever about its fulcrum, said means comprising; a solenoid having a stationary coil and a movable core for operating the lever, a locking member pivotally attached to the core adjacent the lever, said pivoted locking member having a vertical arm interposed between the stationary coil and the lever to prevent movement of the lever when the solenoid is deenergized, and a lost-motion connection between the movable core and the lever so that energization of the solenoid first moves the vertical arm away from the stationary coil and then operates the lever.

4. In combination, a lever, a fulcrum therefor, means for controlling movement of said lever about the fulcrum, said means comprising a power device having a stationary part, and a reciprocally-moving part attached to the lever, a locking member pivotally attached to the reciprocally-moving part adjacent the lever, said piv oted locking member being physically interposed between the stationary part and the lever to prevent movement of the lever when the power device is inactive, and a connection between the reciprocally-moving part and the lever so constructed and arranged that upon the application of power to the power device the reciprocallymoving part first moves the locking member out of contact with the stationary part and then operates the lever.

5. In combination, a lever, a fulcrum therefor, means for controlling movement of said lever about the fulcrum, said means comprising a power device having a stationary part, and a retiprocally-moving part attached to the lever, a locking member for preventin movement of the lever when the power device is inactive, said looking member comprising an L-shaped member having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm extending from the vertical arm, means pivotally attaching the L-shaped member to the reciprocally-moving part adjacent the horizontal arm, the lower end of the vertical arm contacting the lever at all times, the upper end of the vertical arm contacting said stationary part of the power device only when the power device is inactive, and a lost-motion connection between the reciprocally-moving part and the lever whereby movement of the reciprocally-moving part first rocks the L-shaped member to disengage it from the stationary part, and thereafter moves the lever about its fulcrum.

ANTHONY A. QUIMPER. 

